Maximum Security galloping Saturday

BAFFERT LAUDS ‘MAXIMUM’ WORKOUT FOR TVG PACIFIC CLASSIC

Maximum Security worked 6 furlongs in 1:12.80 at 6:30 a.m. today, an exercise that drew a rave review from Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert.

“(Maximum Security) worked the best he has worked for me,” Baffert said via text. “Right on schedule for the Pacific Classic. A very impressive breeze.”

With Juan Ochoa up, Maximum Security – who won the San Diego Handicap on July 25 in his first start for Baffert in a career of nine wins in 11 starts with earnings of nearly $12 million – was sent out along with stablemate McKale, a 5-year-old allowance winner.

Maximum Security’s work was the best, by nearly three seconds, of five total at the distance.

Clocker Toby Turrell noted: “He looked relaxed throughout, gathered up a nice stride late and was widening on his company under the wire.” McKale was officially timed in 1:00.00 for five furlongs.

Maximum Security, a son of New Year’s Day, bred and owned by Gary and Mary West of Rancho Santa Fe, is one of six “probables” and three “possibles” for the $500,000 signature event of the meeting. The 30^th running is scheduled August 22 as part of a five-stakes program.

Baffert confirmed that Abel Cedillo, aboard for the San Diego, would retain the mount for the TVG Pacific Classic.

“Now all we’ve got to do is get those TVG guys to raise the purse …LOL,” Baffert texted.

BODHICITTA’S CONDITION BODES WELL FOR MABEE RETURN

Trainer Richard Baltas reported that Bodhicitta, winner of Saturday’s Yellow Ribbon Stakes, came out of the race a little tired, but otherwise “great.” And another outing here – in the Grade II, $150,000 John C. Mabee on September 5 – is very much in the cards.

Bodhicitta ($11.20),  ridden by Flavien Prat, put her nose in front of 11-1 Tonahutu at the wire to claim the $90,000 winner’s share of the $150,000 purse in the Grade II, 1 1/16-mile turf event. It was the first graded stakes win for the English-bred, 4-year-old filly and came in her eighth U.S. start. There were three wins at lower levels and, most recently, a solid second-place effort in the Grade I Gamely in May at Santa Anita.

A Google search provides the following information regarding the meaning of the word “bodhicitta,” which derives from Buddhism:

“Bodhicitta is a spontaneous wish to attain enlightenment motivated by great compassion for all sentient beings, accompanied by a falling away of the attachment to the illusion of an inherently existing self. ... A person who has a spontaneous realization or motivation of bodhicitta is called a bodhisattva.”

Baltas was unaware of the meaning. But he was aware that the filly he trains for Calvin Nguyen is not the only one with that moniker.

“She’s an English-bred, but there’s also a horse with the same name that’s an American bred. I know because I’ve gotten them mixed up looking them up on Equibase.”

Prat, the dominant rider on the Southern California circuit in recent years, has been aboard for six of Bodhicitta’s last seven starts, four of them wins, and thinks highly of the daughter of Showcasing.

“When he won with her awhile back, he said ‘This is my next (multiple-stakes winner) Vasilika,’“ Baltas related. “It means a lot because he’s ridden a lot of good horses.”

Nguyen was a foundation client when Baltas went out on his own in 1991. Baltas claimed Freedom Crest for Nguyen for  $32,000 in 1999 and he went on to take the 2001 Goodwood Handicap – defeating Skimming (2000-01 Pacific Classic winner) and Tiznow (2000-01 Breeders’ Cup Classic winner).

PRAT ON PACE FOR STAKES RECORD, BUT THERE’S MUCH TO OVERCOME

Flavien Prat’s victory aboard Bodhicitta in the Yellow Ribbon was his eighth stakes victory in a meeting only 12 days old.

The jockey record for stakes victories in a season at Del Mar is 13, set by Rafael Bejarano in 2012. Bejarano has one more than Joe Talamo that season and one more than Laffit Pincay, Jr., in 1976, Chris McCarron (1995), Gary Stevens (1997) and Corey Nakatani (1998).

Staying hot, Prat would seem to have a legitimate chance of joining, or surpassing that group. But several things worth considering make it a much longer shot than it appears to be at the moment.

Prat’s on a pace that matches Bejarano. At a similar point in 2012, 19 stakes races into the meeting, Bejarano also had eight victories. They came in the Oceanside, CTBA, California Dreamin’, San Clemente, Cougar II, Fleet Treat, Real Good Deal and Sorrento.

But Bejarano was competing in a 37-day meeting with cards Wednesday-to-Sunday that offered a total of 43 stakes. Prat’s task is in a compacted Friday-Sunday schedule with a total of 38 stakes events.

Bejarano capped his record season in the closing days with victories in both the Del Mar Debutante (Executiveprivilege) and Del Mar Futurity (Rolling Fog) for trainer Bob Baffert.

In this year of COVID-19-necessitated change, however, it’s possible Prat won’t be around for the final nine stakes of the meeting. With the Kentucky Derby moved to September 5, Churchill Downs is contemplating rules that would require out-of-state riders to come in and quarantine well in advance of the race. August 24 is one date mentioned.

Prat has a Kentucky Derby victory to his credit, on Country House last year via the disqualification of Maximum Security. Like any other elite rider, Prat would like to win one outright and will put that as a top priority.

SIX EXPECTED FOR SATURDAY’S SOLANA BEACH STAKES

Barring a late entry, a field of six is expected for Saturday’s $125,000 Solana Beach Stakes at one mile on turf for older California-bred fillies and mares.

The field, in alphabetical order: Cordiality, Kitty Boom Boom, Mucho Unusual, Pulpit Rider, Sedamar and Smiling Shirlee.

Trainer Tim Yakteen has a strong hand with Cordiality, winner of the Osunitas Stakes over the same course on July 12 and Mucho Unusual, winner of the Grade II San Clemente in 2019.

Yakteen’s duo worked as a team over the turf course this morning with both being timed in 1:00.80 for five furlongs.

DEL MAR TO OFFER PACIFIC CLASSIC BETTING CHALLENGE AUGUST 22

Del Mar will offer the “Pacific Classic Betting Challenge” on Saturday, August 22, which is TVG Pacific Classic Day at the seaside oval when five graded stakes will be presented on a stellar 11-race card.

The “live money” Challenge is offered on-line for the first time through TVG.com only and is expected to draw as many as 200 players.

Those interested in competing can sign up at the Handicapping Contest link at DMTC.com/PCBC.  Registration opens this Thursday, August 13 at 9 a.m. (Pacific).

Here are the rules and facts around the Challenge:

• On-line live money Challenge at TVG.com only.
• $4,000 to enter with $3,000 to bankroll and $1,000 to prizes. 100% payout of prizes.
• Del Mar live races only with loaded card including 5 graded stakes races; 11 total races.
• Prizes include Breeders' Cup Betting Challenge and National Horseplayer Championship entries.
• Win, place, show, exacta, trifecta and double wagering.
• Wager at least $500 on 4 races and at least $3,000 for the Challenge.
• Up to two entries per player.
• Feeders on HorseTourneys.com.

CLOSERS – Selected works from 232 on dirt and 38 on turf this morning: Dirt -Blitzkrieg (4f, :50.40), Devil Made Me Doit (5f, 1:01.60); Turf – Red King (5f, 1:01.00).

Del Mar Statistics

Presented by Torrey Hollistics

Jockey Standings

(Current Through August 8, 2020 Inclusive) 

Trainer Standings

(Current Through August 8, 2020 Inclusive) 

Winning Favorites Report
(Current Through August 7, 2020 Inclusive)

Winning favorites -- 40 out of 126 -- 31.75%
Winning favorites on dirt -- 26 out of 70 -- 37.14%
Winning favorites on turf -- 14 out of 56 -- 25.00%
Winning odds-on favorites -- 9 out of 18 -- 50.00%
In-the-Money favorites -- 82 out of 126 -- 65.08%
In-the-Money odds-on favorites -- 17 out of 18 -- 94.44%